Wheaton, MD Local Data & Statistics

State: MD

Total population: 52,926 Household income: $111,478 Rent: $2,163

Overview

Total population

52,926

Rent

$2,163

Year built

1960

Household income

$111,478

Per capita income

$43,480

Poverty rate

13.1%

Household size

3.1 persons

Rent over 30% of income

44.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Maryland

Total population

52,926

Adults over 25

36,586

Total households

16,932

Household size

3.1 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$111,478

Per capita income

$43,480

Poverty rate

13.1%

Rent over 30% of income

44.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$2,163

Year built

1960

Households that rent

35.4%

Households that own

64.6%

Rooms per home (all homes)

6.2

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

25.6%

Black

19.4%

Asian

10%

Two or more races

10.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

44.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

55.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

79.7%

Commute time to work

32 mins

Work from home

20.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

33.1%

High school graduate or GED

20%

Some college or associate degree

8.2%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

38.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Wheaton, MD with: Maryland United States

Wheaton, MD

Total population52,926

Rent$2,163

Year built1960

Household income$111,478

Per capita income$43,480

Poverty rate13.1%

Unemployment rateN/A

Maryland State

Total population6,206,011

Rent$1,705

Year built1979

Household income$103,678

Per capita income$52,979

Poverty rate9.4%

Unemployment rate3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CDPWheaton, MD	StateMaryland	CountryUnited States
Total population	52,926	6,206,011	334,922,499
Rent	$2,163	$1,705	$1,413
Year built	1960	1979	1980
Household income	$111,478	$103,678	$80,734
Per capita income	$43,480	$52,979	$44,673
Poverty rate	13.1%	9.4%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Wheaton, MD, Maryland and United States →

Summary for Wheaton, MD

Wheaton is located in Maryland.

Rent & Income

In Wheaton, the typical monthly rent is $2,163 and the typical household income is $111,478. Rent here is higher than in both Maryland and the U.S., and household income is also higher than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 13.1%, which is higher than the Maryland rate and similar to the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 35.4% of households. About 44.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 38.7% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Wheaton, MD — Rent vs Household Income

💰 Rent in Wheaton, MD (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,163 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Wheaton, MD

Annual Household Income: $111,478

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Wheaton, MD

Estimated Rate: 13.1%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Wheaton, MD

In Wheaton, MD, households that rent: 5,987 (35.4%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	5,987	35.4%
Owner-Occupied	10,945	64.6%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Wheaton, MD

In Wheaton, MD, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 2,670 (44.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	2,670	44.6%
Other renter households	3,317	55.4%
Total renter households	5,987	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Wheaton, MD

Less than High School: 12,126 people (33.1%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 7,304 people (20%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,983 people (8.2%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 14,173 people (38.7%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 36,586

📊 Unemployment Rate in Wheaton, MD

Estimated Rate: N/A

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Normal, IL52,908 Winter Haven, FL52,846 Elyria, OH52,833 Methuen Town, MA53,043 Grand Island, NE52,761 Edina, MN53,125 Novato, CA52,689 Twin Falls, ID53,219 Minnetonka, MN53,256 Paramount, CA52,546

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.